Floor gravity furnace with air conditioner



Nov. 1, 1955 o. K. SCHNEIDER 2,722,213

FLOOR GRAVITY FURNACE WITH AIR CONDITIONER Filed Feb. 23, 1952 3 Sl'zeets--Sllee'l 1 :lo o 3 al n j 'fly' IN VEN TOR.

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NOV l, 1955 o. K. SCHNEIDER 2,722,213

FLOORGRAVITY FURNACE WITH AIR CONDITIONER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 0/ 40 @fr 1?' Filed Feb. 23, 1952 .as 4a 34 5% 57 77 @g pf a 4. 0504@ HAI/N tHA/E/DEQ, g INVENTOR.

TTOQNEY- NOV- l, 1955 O. K. SCHNEIDER 2,722,213

FLOOR GRAVITY FURNACE WITH AIR CONDITIONER Filed Feb. 23, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 @ya 6o 115" lf2 12E 129 11.-?

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INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 1, 1955 FLOOR GRAVITY FURNACE AIR CONDITIONER Oscar Kain Schneider, South Gate, Calif., assigner to Air Comfort Co., South Gate, Calif., a partnership Application February 23, 1952, Serial No. 273,081

` 1o claims. (ci. 1267-110) This invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus paratus of this invention may be combined is characterized by installation of a heating means within a suitable `receptacle or box below oor level and beneath a partition wall. Extending outwardly from each Side of the wall, the oor is provided with a tloor opening which provides a cool air inlet to the heating means, each opening being covered by a oor grille. Above the heating means, the partition wall is provided with a wall opening into which may project a stack header for receiving warm air from the heating means. The wall opening is provided with a register or grille on each side of the wall, the registers lying generally invdownwardly and outwardly inclined planes commencing virtually at the wall surface and terminating adjacent to the inner margins of the floor grilles. Heated air rises in the stack header and then passes outwardly through the registers and upwardly on the opposite sides of the partition wall into the room. The space required for such a heater is relatively small, the wall opening being generally about two feet wide and a foot and one-half` high. Because of this small space requirement, such a rfurnace may be installed without detracting from the r'appearance of the room. Adequate heat is furnished especially in regions where only temporary heat is normally required, such as during the night and portions of the day during the winter season.

This type of dual oor gravity furnace is further characterized by the disadvantages inherent in all gravitytype furnaces. In general, such `disadvantages include inadequate circulation of heated air, concentration of hot air adjacent to the -ceiling while the coldestair in the room is adjacent to the oor, lack of adequate means for humidifying heated air, lack of means for ltering the heated air so as to remove dust particles therefrom, and the provision of hot air outlets adjacent to the oor.

Because of limited space requirements and because installation is usually between rooms in which the appearance of the walls are of importance, it has heretofore been considered impractical to modify such a dual oor type furnace to provide it with some of the features of an air conditioning unit. While other airconditioning units have been provided for use in a room, they include` structures of deep box-like form which project substantially into the room and are generally unattractive and occupy considerable space.

This inventioncontemplates an air conditioning apparatus which is capable of being employed in combination with such a dual-type oor furnace described above by utilizing the heating means and cool air oor inlets of said furnace. The apparatus of the present invention readily converts an installed oor furnace into an air conditioning unit which is not only capable of etiiciently,

yeffectively and forcibly circulating Warm air heated by the furnace, but also for circulating cool air from below the iloor` level during hot weather when the heating means is inoperative.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to design and provide an air conditioning apparatus which is readily adaptable for use in combination with a dualtype gravity oor furnace as described above.

Another object of this invention is to design and provide an air conditioning apparatus which is capable of operating effectively while located in and forming part of a partition wall.

Another object of this invention is to design and provide an air conditioning apparatus wherein the various operating parts of the apparatus are generally vertically arranged one above the other and do not substantially increase the wall thickness of the partition wall within which it is installed.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide an air conditioning apparatus having a housing which utilizes the space between opposed inner margins of spaced cold air iloor grilles of a dual-type oor furnace.

Still another object of this invention is to design and provide an air conditioning apparatus wherein cool air is pulled into the furnace by fan means mounted above floor level and wherein the motor means for said fan means is protected during operation from the hot air accumulated within the housing.

This invention contemplates an air conditioning apparatus adapted to be installed in combination with a dual oor furnace wherein the apparatus includes a load bearing frame structure capable of structurally serving as part of the partition wall so as to minimize modifications to the partition wall construction.

Generally speaking, the apparatus of this invention includes a frame structure adapted and designed to serve as part of a load bearing partition wall, if necessary, and accommodated in a rectangular opening in the partition wall which is formed by enlarging the original opening provided for the dual-type floor furnace. A housing of slightly greater thickness than the wall is provided to adjustably and neatly cover the enlarged opening. Within the housing in Vertical arrangement are provided a plenum chamber and a lower chamber which may contain a humidier means, air filter means, fan means, and a motor to drive the fan means. The motor is operative in a duct providing air at normal room temperature. Thermostats and fan control means automatically regulate the heating means and the fan means in order to provide intermittent heat to the rooms to maintain them at desired temperature. The particular arrangement of the housing frame structure and air conditioning means affords an eihcient air conditioning unit readily installed and utilizing wall space heretofore believed incapable of effective use. for heating or air conditioning means.

The air conditioning apparatus of this invention further contemplates an arrangement of fan means and driving motortherefor wherein positive circulation of room temperature air about the motor is afforded.

The invention contemplates a modification wherein a motor is carried in an open-ended vertically arranged sleeve, one end of the sleeve being provided with an adjustable closure for regulating the intake of room ternperature air to the sleeve and the other end opening into a lower chamber for mixing room temperature air with heated air. The motor may be provided with oppositely directed motor shaft extensions upon each of which may be mounted a fan means for discharging heated air into an associated plenum chamber.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of an air conditioning apparatus embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken in the vertical plane indicated by line II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken in the vertical planes indicated by line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken in a horizontal plane indicated by line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of an air conditioning apparatus embodying a modification of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7'is a transverse sectional view taken in a horizontal plane indicated by line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a dual-type floor furnace, generally indicated at 10, having a wellknown type of stack header 11, indicated by phantom lines, accommodated within an opening in a partition wall 12. The top of the stack header 11 is indicated by phantom line 13 and in the usual type of dual oor furnace, the partition wall 12 extends downwardly to the phantom line 13. The furnace includes a sheet metal housing 14 which lies below the plane of the oor and carries a burning or heating unit 15. Cool air is drawn to the heating unit 15 through a cool air floor grille 16 provided on each side of the partition wall 12. The warm air ows upwardly into the stack header 11 and is then normally dispersed outwardly in opposite directions into each room.

The air conditioning apparatus of this invention requires only that the stack header 11 be disassembled from the dual oor furnace 10. The opening which accommodated the stack header is then enlarged both vertically and laterally so as to accommodate the air conditioning apparatus of this invention. When enlarged, the opening is indicated at and has a height of approximately four to ve feet.

The air conditioning apparatus of this invention, generally indicated at 21, is accommodated within the opening 20 and is provided with a cabinet or housing means having parallel vertical side walls adapted to overlie the enlarged opening so as to avoid finishing the edges of opening 20, the opening 20 being roughly cut to slightly smaller than the outer dimensions of the apparatus. The apparatus 21 is self-supporting and is designed to serve as a load bearing portion of partition wall 12 so that framing of the opening 20 is not required.

The apparatus 21 includes a rigid metal frame structure comprising a pair of spaced side frame members 22. Each side frame member 22 may be of channel section with the flanges 23 of the channel directed inwardly. Along the bottom edge of each side frame member 22 is integrally formed an outwardly extending horizontal bearing shoe 24 which is adapted to rest upon the door surface 25 and to be secured thereto in any suitable manner as by screws or nails.

The top of said side frame members 22 are joined by a transverse header member 26 also of relatively heavy metal section. The header member 26 includes, at each end, transversely spaced depending flanges 27, said flanges being adapted to overlie the outer surface of the web of side frame member 22. The header member 26 is provided with a longitudinally extending central depending V section reinforcing rib 28 for lending rigidity to the member 26. The member 26 is so designed that it may act as a lintel and adequately support portions of the partition wall 12 which lie thereabove and to transmit such loads to the rigid side frame members 22. It may be noted that the end edge'of reinforcing rib 28 is positioned against the inner surface of a side frame member 22 so that a positive interlock is provided together with the depending flanges 27 between the header member and the side frame members.

The housing means encloses the frame and the several parts of the air conditioning apparatus supported by the frame and presents a suitable, attractive exterior appearance. The housing means may be formed of suitable decoratively faced sheet metal material and may include vertical edge molding strips 30 and horizontal transverse top molding strips 31 for each side wall of the housing means. The configuration of strips 30 and 31 are virtually the same in order to present a uniform appearance. In the example shown, each vertical edge molding strip 30 includes angularly arranged strip portions 33, 34 and 35 disposed so that strip portion 33 lies in a plane virtually perpendicular to the plane of strip portion 35. Integrally formed with strip portion 35 is an inwardly directed angle portion 36 defining a rabbet and having a leg 37 lying against the outer surface of a flange 23 of the side frame member 22. The leg portion 37 may be secured to the ange 23 as by metal screws (not shown). The edge of strip portion 33 bears against the adjacent surface of the partition wall 12 as at 38 and because of the angular configuration of the molding 30, is urged tightly thereagainst when the leg portion 37 is secured to flange 23. The bottom edge of each molding strip 30 may rest on the oor surface and the top portion of each molding strip 30 may be configured as at 39 to conform with the general appearance of the strip 30.

Each molding strip 31 is similarly configured and comprises a plurality of angularly arranged strip portions 40, 41 `and 42, strip portion 42 being integrally formed with an inwardly directed Z section 43 so as to bear against the outer edge of header member 26 and to extend therebeneath as at 44. Suitably spaced metal screws may secure the Z section to the header member 26 in such manner that when the screws are tightened, the edge of strip portion tightly bears against the adjacent surface of the partition wall 12.

Spaced below the top of the apparatus and at each side of the housing means are provided horizontally extending transoms 46, each formed of channel section having outwardly and oppositely directed lips 47 forming with the inwardly directed flanges 45 of the channel section a horizontally extending rabbet above and below the transom 46. Each transom 46 may be secured to the frame members 22 and molding strips 30 by inwardly directed and reversely bent end portions 48 received within rabbet of strip 30 and fastened thereto in any suitable manner.

Adjacent the bottom portion of each side of the housing means, transversely extending fixed panels 50 are received within the rabbets of the strips 30 and secured to the side frame members 22 in any suitable manner. The top edge of each panel 50 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly turned lip portion 51 adapted to provide a seat for removable side panels 52. Each panel 52 is provided along its bottom edge with an inwardly and downwardly turned edge portion 53 so as to interlock with the top portion of panel 50 to prevent outward displacement of panel 52. Panel 52 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly turned top edge portion 54 for reception within the downwardly facing rabbet of the transom 46. The side edges of each removable panel 52 may be congured, as illustrated in Fig. 2 for the transoms 46 and received within adjacent portions 0f rabbets 37.

The removable panels 52 may be suitably secured at their top edge portions `54 by means of spacedspringbiased bullet catches 55 carried by each transom 46.'

The interior surfaces of the molding strips, transoms, panels 50 and 52 may be covered with suitable insulation material in sheet form and secured thereto in any suitable manner, such an insulation material may be, for example, aluminum foil air cell asbestos paper.

Between each transom 46 and top molding strip 31 is provided a suitable outlet directional supply grille 56 maintained` within the rabbets formed by said top and edge molding strips 30 and 31 and the transom 46 in any suitable manner.

yThe hollow housing means as generally defined by the panels 50, 52, transom 46 and grille 56 and the frame structure may be divided into a top plenum chamber 58 and a bottom chamber 59 by a horizontal rigid, generally rectangular fiat support plate 60. The support plate 60 is secured to the web of the side frame members 22 by transversely extending angle bracket members 61. The plate 60 may be secured to said brackets 61 as by screws or bolts (not shown). Side margins of plate 60 may be supported by inner ledges 62 formed by the inwardly directed bottom flanges on said transoms 46. Gasket means 63 may be interposed between the side margins of plate and the angle bracket members 61 and ledges 62 for the purpose of cushioning and quieting any vibration of support plate 60.

The support plate 60 is provided with a generally centrally located rectangular opening 65 through which extends a vertical peripheral lip 66 defining an outlet opening 67 of a fan means 68. The fan means 68 may be of squirrel cage type and is secured to support plate 60 by means of horizontal, outwardly extending flanges 69 encircling the opening 67 beneath the plate 60 and fastened thereto as by bolts or screws (not shown). The fan means 68 includes a casing 70 having oppositely disposed end inlet ports 71 leading to a rotatable squirrel cage 72. The cage 72 is carried on a shaft 73 which projects outwardly from opposite end walls of casing for journaled mounting in trunnions 74 which may be supported from angle iron brackets 75 secured to the end walls of the casing in any suitable manner.

The lower portion of casing 70 carries a longitudinally extending bracket 76 to which may be secured in any suitable manner a transversely extending open ended duct 77. The duct 77 carries therewithin an electric motor 78 having an extended motor shaft 79. The extended shaft 79 carries a pulley 80 in alignment with a pulley 81 carried on the adjacent projecting end of shaft 73 of the squirrel cage. A drive belt 82 interconnects the pulleys and 81 for driving the shaft 73.

The duct 77 has enlarged open end portions 83 terminating at the inner surface of removable panels 52. Opposite each end portion of duct 77, each panel 52 may be provided with a suitable grille 84 formed integral with panel 52. The duct 77 thus provides for circulation of room temperature air around the motor 78 independently of the warm air contained within the lower chamber 59. The inner surfaces of duct 77 may be provided with insulation means.

Each bottom panel 50 is provided with an inwardly extending bracket 86 having horizontally inwardly ex- 1 tending relatively wide shelves 87 adapted to provide a seat for air filtering means 88. The air filtering means 88 may comprise an elongated rectangular self-contained body of suitable air filtering and heat resistant material,

such as an all metal washable type filtering material.

The wide shelves 87 afford means for holding a standard size filter even though the spacing between panels 50 may vary.

Below filtering means 88 and adjacent to the floor level may be provided a laterally extending generally U-shaped trough 90 secured to the side frame members 22 by means of angularly arranged pairs of spaced angle clips 91. The trough 90 is adapted to carry a selected quantity of water for humidifying heated air as it passes upwardly and through the filter means 88. A water pipe 92 may be connected to a suitable source of water supply for furnishing water to the trough 90. The end of water pipe 92 may be provided with a suitable valve means 93 actuated by a float 94 for regulating the height of the water in the trough 90. Adjacent the valve means 93 may be provided a suitable overow drain pipe 9S which may discharge excess water onto the ground surface beneath the building.

Preferably, the amount of water in the trough is selectively maintained at a desired level so as to control the rate of evaporation therefrom to provide a desired selected humidity in the rooms being air conditioned. Furthermore, warm humid air passing through the-filter means increases the efficiency of the filter means and dust particles and lint are positively removed from the arr.

Within the cabinet or housing means may be provided a fan switch means 97 and a limit switch :means 98 each of well known type and responsive to temperature within thehousing means. When heating means 15 warms air to a selected temperature, the fan motor 78 is energized for driving the fan means 68 for moving the warm air through the filter, through the plenum chamber 58, and into the rooms on opposite sides of the partition wall 12. The fan switch means is thereby operative to provide intermittent operation of the fan orblower means.

The limit switch means 98 is connected to a thermostat protecting heating means 15 from over heating. In the event the heating means exceeds a selected tempcrature, the limit switch means serves to positively shut off the heating means.

The heating means 15 is controlled by a room thermostat means (not shown) in well known manner so that when the temperature in a room drops below a selected temperature, the heating means is automatically operative to warm air for circulation by the air conditioning apparatus to bring the room back to desired temperature. 1

In warm weather, the heating means is easily made inoperative by shutting off the fuel supply and thefair conditioning apparatus of this invention may be used to circulate air throughout the adjacent rooms. Usually, the box 14 accommodating the heating means 15 is provided with a port having an adjustable closure so-as to admit cool air from below the floor level into the box 14. During the summer, this port may be opened and when the fan means is operative, cool air from below the floor level is drawn through the apparatus of this invention for circulation into the adjacent rooms. Such circulation of air is partially humidified by humidifier means 90 and the air is cleaned of any dust particles or lint.

It will be readily apparent that the installation of the air conditioning apparatus of this invention may be readily and conveniently made since the frame structure is designed to serve as part of a load bearing wall and the enlarged opening 20 need be cut only to the approximate size of the frame structure. The stack header of the dual floor type furnace is readily removable and the remainder of this type of furnace is not modified in any way. f The removable panels of the cabinet or housing means permit ready access to the filter means 88 for convenient removal and cleaning at periodical intervals. In addition, removal of panels 52 'affords access to' the duct 77 within which is mounted the motor 78 so that servicing'of the motor may be readily performed. Likewise, servicing of the fan means is readily performed because it is easily accessible when both panels 52 are removed. f

It should be particularly noted that the motor 78 operates in an atmosphere of substantially room temperature and therefore operates at an efficient temperature. Over heating of the motor under normal operation of the air conditioning unit is thus avoided and a special type of motor is not required. The end portions of duct 77 may be biased against the removable panels 52 so that vibration and rattling of the panels against the duct is virtually prevented.

The modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 differs from the above-described embodiment of this invention in the arrangement of the fan means, the motor means, and the plenum chamber. The housing is modified `to provide an inlet opening for motor cooling. air vbetween warm air supply side grilles. The entire construction results in a more compact arrangement.

For the purpose of brevity and clarity in the description of this modification, the heating means, humidifying means, filter means, cool air inlet floor grilles, frame structure, and molding strips therefor are virtually the same as that described in the `above modification and such description will not be repeated.

In Fig. 5, the housing means includes a relatively large single removable panel which cooperates with rabbets 101 formed on the molding strip means 102. The single panel 100 may be provided with insulating material on the inner surface thereof and may be integrally formed with'side outlet warm air supply grilles 103 and a central inlet motor cooling grille 104. It should be noted that when each panel 100 is removed, the entire air conditioning apparatus enclosed therewithin is exposed to facilitate servicing and adjustment.

.The air conditioning apparatus of this modification includes a channel section, rectangular, enlongated support or mounting plate 105 which may be secured to side frame members 106 as described in the prior modification. The plate 105 is provided with rectangular spaced end openings 107 and a somewhat smaller rectangular central opening 108 lying between the end openings. Below each end opening and carriedby the plate is a fan means 109 of squirrel-cage type mounted in a suitable fan casing. Each fan casing is provided with a side inlet port 110 and a discharge port 111 aligned with and of virtually the same area as an associated end opening 107 in the plate.

Air discharged by the fan means flows through the end openings into separate and independent side plenum chambers 112 above the plate for flow of air out of the side outlet supply grilles 103 in the housing means. For the purpose of controlling the ow of air through the plenum chambers and to reduce to a minimum noise caused by such flow of air, each plenum chamber 112 is provided with'a plurality of spaced curved air guide members 113.

Each member 113 is mounted at one end in a pair of spaced, aligned slots 114 provided in upstanding flanges 115` carried by a collar 116 surrounding each end opening 107. The collar is secured to the mounting plate in any suitable manner. The opposite ends of the air guide members 113 may be secured in suitable manner to a vertical member 117 which may be secured to the mounting plate. Thus, air discharged through each end opening is guided by the curved air guide members to selected areas of the outlet supply grilles for discharge therefrom with a selected air distribution.

Means for positively supplying room temperature air to the motor means 125 for the fan means includes a central compartment 120 between the plenum chambers defined by side and top walls 121 and 122 respectively.

The side walls 121 are secured to the support plate 105 l in any suitable manner.

Below the central opening 108 in the plate 105 is provided a depending open ended sleeve 123 which may be secured to the plate 105 in suitable manner and to the fan casings if desired. The top opening of the sleeve is aligned with the central opening 108. The lower end of sleeve 123 opens into the lower chamber 124 of the housing means between the fan casings and above the lowermost portions thereof.

Carried within the sleeve by a bracket 12Sa is a motor means 125 for driving the spaced fan means 109. The motor means is provided with a shaft extension 126 extending outwardly from each end of the motor and through the sleeve wall and fan casing, each shaft extension carrying a squirrel cage 127 of the fan means. It will thus be readily apparent that when the fan means are being driven by the motor, warm air in the lower chamber above the filter means is pulled through the side ports 110 of the fan casing into the fan means and discharged upwardly and outwardly through the plenum chambers. 'At the same time, the fan means pull room temperature air into the lower chamber of the housing means through the central inlet grille 104, the central compartment 120, and through the open ended sleeve 123 within which the motor is mounted. The motor is thus subjected to positive circulation of room temperature air for maintaining the motor at optimum operating temperatures. While a direct motor drive is shown for the fan means, it is understood other drive means may be provided, such as a pulley means.

The central opening 108 in the plate may be provided with an adjustable closure 128 so as to admit to the sleeve and to the lower chamber only desired quantities of room temperature air. An exemplary closure for the central opening may comprise a fiat, rectangular piece of sheet metal having upwardly and outwardly extending side flanges which are adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of the side walls 121 defining the central compartment. The closure may thus be readily moved over a portion of central opening 108 so as to restrict the amount of air drawn through the sleeve 123.

It may be noted that the central inlet grille 104 on each panel 103 on its outer face is of the same heighth as the outlet supply grilles but on its inner surface is partially closed by a wall 129. This arrangement limits the maximum amount of air which might be drawn through the central compartment into the open ended sleeve 123 while at the same time providing an attractive external appearance of the housing means.

The space between the fan casings provides a conven ient place for carrying and mounting selected controls for the air conditioning apparatus. These controls may include the fan and limit switch means described in the prior modification and which may be mounted on the open-ended sleeve. The operation of these controls may be similar to those described in the prior embodiment of this invention.

It will be readily apparent that positive forced circulation of room temperature air about the motor means is provided in this modification. Such an arrangement permits operation of the heating means at a higher temperature so that the temperature of the air in the lower chamber may be increased to about 170 to 190 F. In the prior modification, the air temperature in the lower chamber was preferably restricted to 140 to 150 F. Such higher temperatures will provide for more quickly heating an adjacent room.

The upper plenum chambers may be provided with relatively heavy insulated material as indicated at 130 so as to effectively dampen and reduce to a minimum vibration and air noises.

It should be particularly noted that the air conditioning apparatus of this invention as described above occupies very little room space since a substantial portion of the unit is contained within the partition wall 12 and between the opposed inner margins of the spaced floor grilles 16. Normally, the cabinet projects beyond the partition wall 12 not more than approximately four inches on each side. The frame structure and cabinet means is designed so as to permit some adjustment in the depth of the housing, that is, in the spacing of the side walls of the housing so that the exemplary dimension of four inches mentioned above may be somewhat varied. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that an air conditioning unit has been provided which effectively utilizes what has heretofore been dead wall space in order to provide an air conditioning unit in combination with a dual-type fioor furnace. The particular vertical arrangement of the various parts of the air conditioning apparatus provides for an eicient effective forced air circulating system which is capable of humidifying the air and efficiently removing dirt and dust particles from the circulated air.

While the above-mentioned modifications have been illustrated and explained, particularly with respect to a dual-type gravity floor furnace, it is understood that such an air conditioning apparatus may be used with any oor gravity furnace. It is understood that the housing means may only partially cover the oor opening of a gravity furnace so as to provide an independent self-supporting housing when cool air inlets are provided in the floor grille. If desired, the housing means may be made of greater depth so as to entirely cover the oor opening of the floor gravity furnace provided that cool air inlets are afforded beneath the ioor.

It is understood that the temperature sensitive control elements for operation of the fan means are located above and adjacent to the heating means and are sensitive to changes in temperature at a point just above the heating means. Therefore, when the heating means is turned on by means of the room thermostat, the fan means begins to operate ahnost immediately thereafter. Since the fan means will pull air first along path offering the least resistance to the passage of air, it will be readily apparent that motor cooling air is pulled down through the motor inlet grille and sleeve because there is a minimum of resistance to the path of such air, The heated air below the fan means must pass through the lter which affords a certain amount of resistance to the air. The difference in the resistance of the path of air flowing through the motor cooling air inlet grille and the path of air flowing through the cold air inlet grilles in the oor and upwardly through the lter means thus provides for positive circulation of motor cooling air about the motor.

It should also be noted that the present construction is designed to facilitate dismantling and servicing of the air conditioning unit. In each embodiment, the assembly, the fan means, motor means, and duct for the motor means is secured to and carried by partition support plate Which is carried by the side frame members on angle brackets. Thus, the support plate carrying the assembled elements mentioned above may be readily removed from the cabinet or housing by merely lifting the mounting plate from its angle iron supports. For quick servicing during cold weather, a replacement unit may be installed quickly and easily after the original assembly is removed so that a dwelling will not be deprived of its heating means for more than a very short period of time.

It is understood that various modications and changes may be made in the air conditioning apparatus described above and all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are ernbraced thereby.

I claim:

l. In combination with a dual-type gravity furnace having a heating means with an upwardly directed warm air outlet and adapted to be installed in a building below a oor and beneath an opening in a partition wall thereof, the floor of said building having spaced cool air inlet grilles on opposite sides of the partition wall: an air-conditioning apparatus including a frame structure adapted to serve as part of the partition wall and including spaced side frame members and a header member connecting tops of said side members; a housing means supported from and enclosing the frame structure, said housing means being provided with removable panels and air outlet supply grilles; a horizontal, elongated, generally rectangular support plate extending across the housing and carried by the side frame members and defining an upper plenum chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being in communication with the warm air outlet, said upper chamber being in communication with the air outlet supply grilles; said support plate being provided with an aperture; a fan means carried by said support plate and having a discharge outlet received within said aperture and in communication with the upper chamber and having an inlet to the lower chamber; a transversely arranged, openended duct carried by said fan means and terminating adjacent said removable panels, said panels vhaving a grille means aligned with the open ends of said duct; motor means carried within said duct and operably connected to said fan means; air filter means and airhumidifying means supported from said side frame members below said fan means and within said lower chamber; said filtering means being supported across said lower chamber above the point of communication with the warm air outlet; and automatic control means for energizing said motor means at a preselected temperature.

2. In combination with a dual-type gravity furnace having a heating means with an upwardly directed warm air outlet adapted to be installed in a building below a` oor and beneath an opening in a partition wall thereof, the oor of said building having a cool air inlet grille for the heating means: an air-conditioning apparatusincluding a frame structure adapted to serve as part of the partition wall and including upstanding spaced side frame members and a header member connecting tops of said side members; a housing means enclosing the frame structure and supported therefrom, said housing means being provided with removable panels and air outlet supply grilles; a horizontal, elongated support plate extending across said housing and carried by the side frame members and defining an upper plenum chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being in communication with the warm air outlet and said upper chamber being in communication with the air outlet supply grilles; said support plate being provided with an aperture; a fan means carried by the support plate and having a discharge outlet received within said aperture to communicate with said upper chamber and having an inlet to the lower chamber; a transversely arranged, open-ended duct carried by said fan means and terminating adjacent said removable panels, said panels having grille means aligned with the open ends of said duct; and motor means carried within said duct and having a shaft portion extending without the duct operatively connected to the fan means.

3. In combination with a gravity furnace having a heating means with an upwardly directed warm air outlet adapted to be installed in a building below a door and beneath an opening in a partition wall: an air-conditioning apparatus comprising a frame structure including upstanding spaced side frame members and a header member connecting tops of said side members; cabinet means supported from and enclosing the frame structure, said cabinet means being provided with removable panels and air outlet supply grilles; a horizontal, elongated support plate extending across said cabinet and carried by the side frame members and defining with the cabinet means an upper plenum chamber and a lower chamber, the lower chamber being in communication with the warm air outlet and the upper chamber being in communication with the air outlet supply grilles; said support plate being provided with an aperture; a fan means carried by said support plate and having a discharge outlet in communication with the upper plenum chamber through said aperture and having an inlet to the lower chamber; a transversely arranged, open-ended duct carried by said .fan means and terminating adjacent said removable panels, said panels having grille means aligned with the open ends of said duct; and motor means carried within said duct and operatively connected to said fan means.

4. In combination with a gravity floor furnace having a heating means provided with an upwardly directed warm air outlet and adapted to be installed in a building below a oor and beneath an opening in a Wall of the building: an air conditioning apparatus including a selfsupporting frame structure having side frame members and a header member interconnecting said side frame,

members; a housing adapted to cover the wall opening and carried by the frame structure; partition means extending transversely across said housing and carried by said side frame members, said partition means defining an upper chamber and a lower chamber; said lower chamber being in communication with the warm air outlet means in the upper chamber forming a central compartment and defining end plenum chambers; said partition means being provided with a fan discharge port in communication with each plenum chamber; a fan means carried by the partition means below each port, having an inlet to said lower chamber, and adapted to discharge air therethrough into the associated plenum chamber; said partition means being provided with an opening to said central compartment; an open ended sleeve carried by the partition means having one end in communication with said partition opening and the other end opening into said lower chamber below said fan means; driving means for said fan means mounted within the open ended sleeve and having oppositely extending motor shaft portions projecting into said fan means; and spaced outlet supply grilles formed in said housing and an inlet supply grille located between said outlet grilles and in communication with said central compartment.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein curved guide members are supported within each plenum chamber by the partition means for controlling flow of air therethrough.

6. In combination with a gravity floor furnace having a heating means provided with an upwardly directed warm air outlet and adapted to be installed in a building below a floor, the door of said building being provided with a cold air inlet for the heating means: an air conditioning apparatus including a self-supporting frame structure; a hollow housing carried by the frame structure and including a motor air inlet supply grille and a warm air outlet supply grille; partition means extending across said housing below said grilles and carried by said frame structure; means carried by the partition means providing a compartment in communication with said motor air inlet grille and defining with the partition means and housing a plenum chamber in communication with said warm air outlet grille; a fan means carried below the partition means and having a discharge outlet into said plenum chamber and having an inlet to the housing below said partition means; an open ended sleeve means carried below the partition means and having one open end in communication with said compartment and the other open end communicating with the portion of the hollow housing below said partition means; the portion of the hollow housing below said partition means being in communication with the upwardly directed warm air outlet and a motor means for said fan means carried within the sleeve means.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the motor inlet grille and the warm air supply outlet grille lie in adjacent horizontal relation.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said other open end of said sleeve means terminates above the lowermost portion of said fan means.

9. In combination with a gravity floor furnace having a heating means provided with an upwardly directed warm air outlet and adapted to be installed in a building below a floor and beneath an opening in a wall of the building, the oor being provided with a cold air inlet for the heating means: an air conditioning apparatus including a self-supporting frame structure; a hollow housing adapted to cover the wall opening and carried by the frame structure; said housing having spaced warm air outlet grilles and an intermediate motor air inlet grille provided adjacent the top of said housing; partition means extending across said housing below said grilles and carried by said frame structure; means carried by the partition means forming a central hollow compartment in communication with said intermediate grille and defining spaced plenum chambers in communication with said outlet grilles; a fan means carried by the partition means below each plenum chamber and having a discharge outlet in communication with the associated plenum chamber and an inlet to the housing below the partition means; the housing below said partition means being adapted to receive air from said warm air outlet; an open ended sleeve carried below the partition means having an open end in communication with said compartment and lying between said fan means; and a motor means carried within said open ended sleeve for driving each fan means.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein an adjustable closure is provided for an open end of said sleeve for controlling the quantities of air drawn into said sleeve by said fan means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,861,812 Modine June 7, 1932 2,055,926 Fraser Sept. 29, 1936 2,370,795 Jones Mar. 6, 1945 2,389,265 Livar Nov. 20, 1945 2,491,664 James Dec. 20, 1949 2,517,909 Miller Aug. 8, 1950 2,580,492 Watts Ian. l, 1952 2,603,206 Schueder July 15, 1952 2,647,506 Heiman Aug. 4, 1953 

